Pardon Our Apprehension

Space Shuttle launch director Mike Leinbach (shown above) chats with the media about a crack that was discovered in the foam insulation on the external fuel tank. The NASA spokesman said the crack was no reason for concern. After sending images of the crack to the tank’s manufacturer in Louisiana, the space agency concluded it did not need to make any repairs.

Hearing the words “crack”, “foam insulation,” and “shuttle” in the same sentence still has us a bit jittery…

Remember when the accident first happened and all of the NASA engineers were sure that the foam wouldn’t cause a problem? There was no way that the fluffy foam could cause the problem.
If I were making a wager on the whole thing, I’d have to say that the foam that got soaked from sitting under a leaky warehouse roof turned to a solid block of ice (liquid H2 is a bit cold) that was blown off at mach whatever was far more dangerous than fluffy foam.
Going into orbit on a chemical rocket will always be a 1 in 50 or 1 in 100 chance. I wonder why they keep everybody back 3 miles or thereabouts. What reason could there be?

McCainApril 7, 2005

That hypocrite is a hell of a long way away from his dangerous vehicle.